| Date | Saturday, 08 November 2003 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish League Division 1 |
| Fixture/Score | Ross County 1:2 Falkirk |
| Venue | Victoria Park |
| Attendance | 3,204 |
| Referee | Hugh Dallas |
| Comments | Match Report Report from the Press & Journal. Ross County 1 Falkirk 2 Ross County lost two games in succession for the first time this season as Falkirk showed their Division 1 title credentials with a second victory in the Highlands in as many weeks. Bairns duo Andy Lawrie and Jason Lee, who combined to sink Caley Thistle the previous week, were on target again as Falkirk extended their unbeaten run on the road. Player-manager John Hughes said: "It is never easy coming to Dingwall against a side full of good young players. We are not so cavalier now as we were earlier in the season when teams would pick us off." County manager Alex Smith was disappointed with the result, but felt his side should have taken something from the game. He said: "i thought it was an excellent game. We started well, but we conceded a bad goal. "When you go behind to an experienced team like Falkirk, it is very difficult to get in behind them and break them down. But credit to them, they defended well. I just felt we were a bit unlucky not get something out of the game." The breakthrough came in the seventh minute when a deep cross from Scott Mackenzie was met at the far post by Lawrie. The Falkirk full back beat Steve Mackay to the ball and it dropped over the line via the inside of the post. Lawrie turned provider when his accurate cross from the right was headed down and into the net by Lee. It looked ominous for County, but a spectacular strike from Robertson on the half hour mark put them right back into the game. Robertson made room for himself on the edge of the 18-yard box and unleashed an unstoppable left foot shot which flew into the roof of the net. County threw everything at Falkirk in the dying stages and forced a succession of corners, but to no avail. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Alexander (Alex) Smith |
| Starting 11 | 1: Colin Stewart, 2: Hugh Robertson 1, 3: Stuart Malcolm, 4: Steven MacKay, 5: David Hannah, 6: Jamie McCunnie, 7: Don (JNR) Cowie, 8: John Rankin, 9: Mark McCulloch, 10: Graham Bayne, 11: Sean Higgins |
| Bench | 0: Leslie Fridge, 0: Stephen O'Donnell, 0: David Winters, 0: Steven McGarry, 0: Conor Gethins |
| Falkirk | |
| Manager | John Hughes |
| Starting 11 | Allan Ferguson, James Sharp, Kevin James, Andy Lawrie 1, John Hughes, Scott McKenzie, Russell Latapy, Craig McPherson, John O'Neil, Jason Lee 1, Colin McMenamin |
| Bench | Darren Hill, Kieran McAnespie, Neil Scally, Brent Rahim, Derek Colqhoun |